Oil-well pump



Sept 13 1927' w. F. MCMAHON OIL WELL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1925 /NVf/WOP. Mmm wwo MW a pumping means that will at all times be inearth it may obviously v I ing fluids from other forms of fluid contam- Patented Sept. 13, 192.7. 'Y

UNITED STATES PATENT or-Fica` FREDERICK MOMAHONQ OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFOBNIA.

ort-WELT. Pour. Application led lovember 2, 1925.` lSerial No. 66,324.

by a pressure at the surface of the earth, to

ralieA the fluid pumped, out of its respective tu e. Y

This invention relates to new and' useful improvements in oil pumps as applied to oil wells and meafns for raising oil from oil deposits in the earth to some height above` the Thirdrto provide anpoil well pumping syssurface of the ground, tem whereby all mechanical moving parts Whilev the invention is shown applied to are above the surface of the ground. pumping oil from oil deposits deep in the Fourthzto afford facilities, whereby sevbe used foixpumpf developing plant etliciently.

Fifth: to reduce the number of movin parts in an oil well pump. With these and other objects in View the invention resides and consists in the construction and novel combination and aiu-angement oflpafrts hereinafter more fully described and illustrated and pointed out in the claims hereto a pended, it being Aunderstood that various chan es in thefor proportion, size and minor etails of construction within the sco of the claims may be'resorted to without eparture from the s irit or sacrificing anypf the afdvantages o the invention. f S

Similar characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several ligures of the accompanying drawings fol'mlinga part of this specification and upon w 1c ers and used to equally good advantage.

, In the illustration I have shown an oil well adapted to be pumped by a U tube pump'in which one tube contains the pumped fluid and the other tube contains the forcing liquid, which has a higher specific gravity than the fluid being pumped, and said forcing liquid is moved by a pressure, that is, in th1sv particular case developed by a single vacting reciprocating pump. 'In practice however two or more oil Wells each containing a U tube pump may derive their said,l forcing pressure from a: common pressure developing plant.

It is well known that the depth of-the oil deposit in an oil Well will vary.. at all times due mainly to the gas pressure in the earth, hence pumping means depending upon the depth of the pump eduction or pump suction pipe in the oil deposit are limited in their operation and volumetric efficiency, and provision is therefore needed for correction.

It is an object of this invention to provide tu struction ofthe fiuld passageways.

Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation'through the U tube pump on a larger scale, showing the check valve the only mechanical moving. part in the pump.

Fig. 4, is a section through delivery passageway, at line Z2-b, showing the construction of same.

Fig. 5, is a section through theicheck valve ofthe Uatube pump at line H, showing the ball valve ca system. I

Fig. 6, is a section through the Huid pres- U tube and the pressure pumps, showing the genera-l assembled construction.

ig. 2, is a transversesection through a U dependent of aA limited depth of its pump educt-ion pipe or pump suction pipe in the body of oil inlthe oil well.

Other objects of my improvement are: rst, to provide a column of oil and Water adapted to be moved in a reciprocating movement in a pumping system in an oil well, to raise the fluid from the oil deposit ip thesaid oil well.

Second: to provide a U tube pumping system in an oil well, utilizing the properties of the Huid being pum ed, whereby said fluid will float on Iwater, aiiording thereby abalanced column of fluid in both tubes, one tube having a column of the Huid being pumped and the other tube having a column of fluidthe earth from the surface tothe oil de of greater or higher specific gravity whereby the later column of fluid can befactuated contained 1n the earth.' After the oil denection to same.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawin resents the oil well which is a hole rilled in eral oil wells may be pumped by one .pressure Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation through the pump at line a-a, showing the consure cylinder showing the water tube con- 1 rep-A sits - equivalent 'column oil well into the tube v comprises of,

vto the oil in the posits are penetratedl the pressure in the earth raises a column of oil to a height. 2 1n the oil well. It is into this column of oilI lower my U tube pumping system which as the name implies, two tubular columns 3 and 4, each tube extending Jfrom the surface of the earth into the oil well and joining together at some point 5 in the body of oil in the oil well 1., As oil will oat on water and the specific gravity of the oil is a slight less than that or water at the same temperature, l provide a column of water in tube 3, and it will balance a column o oil in tube 4, at some point in t-he lower end portion of the tube 4 near the joint 5, and below the check valve 6. By

exerting a pressure onthe column of water in tube 3, by means of the plunger of the direct acting pump 8, it can readily be seen that a column ot water equivalent to the displacement of the plunger 7, will move an of oil in tube 4 through a certain distance, and when the plunger 7, is moved in a reversed direction the said column of oil will do likewise under its own weight, it is upon this reciprocating movement I derive my pumping cycle or' operation.

AS before stat d thecolumn of oil in tube 4`, and the column of water in tube 3, will balance each other at some point in the actuating cylinder 9 yof the tube 4, the plunger 7 of the reciprocating pump 8 in forcing the column of water in tube 3 to the actuating cylinder 9, in turn orces the column o oil iioating on the said column of water through the actuating passageway 10 and performs actual mechanical work, as truly as though steam acted on a piston and moved a pump plunger along with it.

A, current of any kind be it steam, air, water or other ,fluid has a tendencyl to induce a movement, in the same direction, of any body with which it may be in contact. This mechanical principle underlies the action of my improvement in raising the oil from the- 4, through the check valve system 6, and when the plunger 7 has reached its full stroke the check valve 6 closes and the moving column of fluid in the actuating cylinder 9 returns, to its former position. The said-moving column of fluid when moving upward with an extremely high velocity through the contracted passageway 10, imparts a portion of -its velocity delivery cylinder 11, and gives it suicient kinetic energy to overcome a pressure even higher than the original pressure developed by the plunger 7 on the column of water in the tube 3.

The difference in the velocities of the Huid being forced through the actuating contracted passageway 10, and the delivery contracted passageway 12, together with the slight ydilerence in temperature between the oil 1n the oil well and the fluid in the pumping system produces a partial vacuum in the valve body 13. Y c

The velocity imparted to the column of oil in the delivery cylinder 11 gives the latter suiiicient energy to throw open the check valve 6 and raise a column of oil from the oil well l, equivalent to the displacement of the plunger 7 of the pressure developing pum 8. v The pressure developing pump is in this particular case a steam driven, direct single acting reciprocating pump 8, as this pump 8 is of standard construction theprinciple of which is well known 1 will only de'- scribe the parts pertaining to my invention as all other description would be superfluous. The plunger 7, which is actuated by the steam pressure on the steam piston 20, is outside packed and` moves in a reciprocating movement in water cylinder 15 which is, on one end portion attached to the steam cylinder 16 by a connecting -guideway 17, on the other end portion the said cylinder 15 is connected by a large radius elbow 19 to the water column tube 3.

The water column tube 3 is an extra strong tubular pipe made up of pipes of the standard commercial length, each pipe being connected to each other by a standard pipe coupling 18. This tube 3 extends from the end of the large radius elbow 19 to the joint connection 20 at the lowerl end of the actuating cylinder 9 of the tube 4, where it is fastened to same by a pipe elbow 20, which has threaded connection with said cylinder 9.

The actuating cylinder 9 which is part of tube 4 is a tubular cylinder enclosed at one end portion, just above this said end por-V tion` I have provided a threaded hole in the walls of the cylinder 9 for the pipe elbow 20 of the tube 3. rIhe other or upper end portion contains a check valve body or chamber 13, which is cast as part of the actuating cylinder 9, said chamber 13 provides a casing to hold the fluid pumped from the oil well, and means for connecting the other der 9. By referring to Fig. 3 of the illustration it will be seen that I have provided several ball valves 6 in the valve chamber 13. I do this to reduce the diameter of the valve 'nsl portion of the tube 4 to the actuating cylinchamber 13 to a minimum around the actuating passageway 10, this arrangement enables me to allow for the limited space in an oil well and also permits a homogeneous ow of fluid on all sides of the actuating passageway 10, or outlet adapted to increase the velocity of the fluid moving under pressure from the actuating cylinder 9. r`The ball,- valves 6 are ke t in place, in the yalve chamber 13, over t eir respective valve seats'v21 by ribs 22 and are limited in their lift by a rod 23 that extends over them and through the ribs 22.

. balanced by fluid Below the valve seats v21 I have rovided a strainer 24 containing enough per orations 25 to protect the valve seats 21 and allow ample area for the valve system. On the upper end portion of the valve chamber 13 I have provided an outward threaded disposed cylinder 26-to permit of a typical union joint 27 for the connecting couple 28 that fastens the actuating cylinder 9 and the delivery cylinder 11 of the tube 4 together, also this outward disposed cylinder 26 supports and keeps in its place a delivery actuating passageway 12.

The delivery actuating passageway 12' is a tubular cylinder constructed to besupported in the actuating cylinder 9 and to bevremovable to allow for the placing pf the ball valves 6 in their respective positions at the assembly of the tube 4 unit. It is adaptedto cooperate with the actuating passageway 10 in guiding the flow of fluid from the actuating cylinder/9 into the delivery cylinder 11 when the velocity of said Huid is raising the pumped fluid out of the valve chamber 13.

The delivery cylinder 11 is a tubular cyl inder extending from the Surface of the earth to the valve chamber 13 which is-located in the body of oil in the-oil well 1.. At the upper end portion I have provided a large radius elbow 29 to .discharge the horizontally from the tube 4 and at the lower end portion I have provided a lug to co-operate with the union joint 27 to fasten to the actuating cylinder 9-thus completing the entire unit termed tube 4. This delivery cylinder 11 can be made up of standard length commercial extra strong pipes each section of pipe being connected to each other by the usua standard pipe couplings if so desired.

The U tube pump will be supported by a base 30, upon a concrete pier 31. After the complete U tube pump is assembledand is lowered into the body of oil in the oil well until the valvecham r 13 is an ample distance below the level 2 nect the pressure pump 8 to tube 3 and till tube 4 with oil, tube 3 is then primed with water through .valve 32, that is connected to a common water line, until the lluids in both tubes 3 and 4 balance each other, the pressure pump 8 is then operated and the pumping system will function. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Iietters Patent is;

1. In an oil pump adapted to raise oil from oil deposits in the earth, a conduit ada ted to hold a columnof oil from said oil water, said column of oil vfloating on and the pressure of the column of water, and a chamber` the deposit, a passageway leading from said chamber, a discharge nozzle in said chamber ofthe said oil I con-- giving eposits, a conduit holding a column of having connection with directed into said passageway to induce an infector action and forming a part of the oil co umn, and means for imparting reciprocating movement to the columns of oil and water; whereby oil'is raised from the said oil deposits.

2. In an oil from oil deposits in the earth, a conduit ada ted to hold a column of oil, a conduit hol 'ng a column of water, means to move said columnof water in one direction by energy derived from some external source and ermit its movement in a reverse direction by the weight of the column of oil and thus cause reciprocating movement of said columns, a `suction nozzle in the oil column,

, a discharge passageway into which the nozzle4 is directed to induce an ejector action, and an inlet connection from the deposit to said passageway whereby oil is raised from the said oil deposits by said reciprocating movement of the columns of oil and water. p 3. In an oil pump adapted to raise oil from oil deposits in the earth, two conduits extending rom the surface of the earth adapted to hold two columns of fluid extending from the surface of the earth to the deposit, one a column ofnoil and the other a column of water, and ejector means includ` ing a nozzle for raising oil from oil deposits in the earth by a reciprocating movement of the two columns of fluid. 4. Inan oil pump adapted to raise oil from oil deposits in the earth, two tubular cylinders extending from the surface of the ground to the oil deposit in the earth and AJoined together in said oil deposit, one of Said cylinders adapted to hold a column of oil, a column of water in der, both columns of l'luid having equal pressure and exten-ding from the surface of the earth to the deposit, an inlet connection from the de osit to said oil, column, a check valve in sai connection,

column of water, whereby the check valve is opened b ysaid movement, and closed by the weight o the column of oil, and ejector means including a nozzle operated by movement of said water column to raise oil from the deposit.

5. In an oil well. pump for raising oil from deposits inthe earth, connected lconduits adapted to form a-colunn of oil and a column of water extending from the surface vof the earth to the deposit, means for a reciprocating movement to said columns, and ejector'means including a nozzle operated by said movements of the columns to raise oil'from the deposit.

' 6.` In an oil well deposits in the earth, conduits adapted to form ltwo connected columns of fluid, one of said columns of Huid having a lower spe- .ciic gravity than the other and floating on of greater s DI and vbalanced, by the column means for moving the pump for raising oil from pump adapted to raise oil the other tubular cylin-4 citic gravity, there being a contracted passage in one of said conduits, a nozzle for forcing the' duid through said contracted passage, means for forcing the fluid of the columns through said nozzle and a connection from the deposit to said contracted passage and cooperating with said flow to raise oil from the deposit.

7. In an oil well pump for raising oil from deposits in the earth, a conduit adapted to hold a column of luid from the deposit, a conduit connected with the tirst conduit and carrying a column of liquid of greater specific gravity than the said column of Huid, said column Vof fluid from the deposit ioating onand balanced by the column of liquid of greater specitic gravity, a pumping means for imparting movement to the columns of iiuid and liquid, an actuating passageway in said first conduit, a nozzle in said conduit directed to discharge into said passageway, and an inlet connection from the depositI to said passageway cooperating with said movement to raise oilI from the deposit. c

8. In an oil well pump for raising oil from deposits-in the earth, two tubular members extending from the surface of the earth to the deposit and joined together, each member being adapted to hold a column of. fluid extending from .the surface of the )earth to the deposit, one of said members having an open ended passageway, the other member carrying a cblumn of liquid, a nozzle arranged to discharge liquid from the latter member into said open end, a connection from the open end of said ypassage to the deposit, a check valve in said connectionand means for imparti/ng a reciprocating movement to the fluid in said members whereby y the check valve is opened by said movement y in one direction and closed by movement of the column of fluid in a reverse direction.

9. In an oil well pum for raising oil from deposits in the eart a body in the deposit having a cross wall forming upper and lower chambers, adelivery passage way@ leading from the upper-chamber, an actuating cylinder,- extending through said wall and having a discharge passage directed toward said deliveryVA passage, the walls of saidbody having openings leading to the lower .chamber andthe crossl wall having lpassages therethrough, .check valves controlling said passa es, a discharge conduit leading from the ischarge passage tothe surface of the earth, a conduit leading from the surface ofthe earth to said actuating' cylinder and ycarrying a column. of iui'd,

and means for causing reciprocating movement of the fluid in said conduit to raise oil v from the deposit.

10. In an oil well pump for raising oil from depositsin the earth, a body in the deposit having a cross wall forming upper and lower chambers, a delivery passage way leading from the upper chamber, an actuating cylinder extending through said wall and having a contracted discharge passage directed toward said delivery passage, `said cross wall being provided with openings f therethrough, upwardly extending walls between adjacent openings, ball check valves for controlling the openings, means for retaining the balls between said walls, the

walls of t-he body having openings leading- 11. In an oil well pump for raising oil' from deposits in the earth, two tubular conduits leading from thesurface of the earth tothe deposit'and connected to form a U- tube construction, said conduits being adapted to hold a liquidA forming a continuous U-shaped column of liquid leading from the surface of the earth, means. connected with one of the conduits to impart a reciprocating movement to "said column of liquid, a connection from the other conduit to the deposit, and ejector means including a nozzle in said conduit cooperating with said movement oftheacolumn to raise oil from the deposit. i p' f;

12. In an qil well pump for raising oil 'from deposits in the earth, two tubular conduits leading from the surface of the earth to the deposit and connected to form a U- tube construction, said conduits being `adapted to hold a liquid forming a .continuous U-shaped column of liquid leading from the surface of the earth, a column of liquidfin `one of said conduits, means 'connected with said conduit to impart/al reciprocating move-V meixt to said column of liquid, an actuating passageway in the other. conduit, a nozzle- 'scribed my name.

WILLIAM FREDERICK MCMAHON.

.l In testimonyl thereof -I have hereunto sub. 

